Eco Oro announces Regional Park of Santurban declared

TSX: EOM

VANCOUVER, Jan. 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Eco Oro Minerals Corp. ("Eco Oro" or the "Company") (TSX: EOM) announces that the declaration of the Regional Park of Santurbán (the
"Park") has been approved. The Corporación Autónoma Regional para la
Defensa de la Meseta de Bucaramanga ("CDMB") has reported that the Park
will comprise an area of 11,700 hectares. The CDMB has indicated that
the coordinates of the Park will be submitted for approval at the next
meeting of the CDMB's board of directors. The CDMB has not reported
when that meeting will be held nor has it indicated the location of the
Park boundaries.

"We trust that the boundaries will be defined while being sensitive to
the ongoing mining activity and projects in the region, which currently
contribute to the social and economic stability of the local
communities and which are expected to spearhead economic growth in the
region while contributing to the Colombian Government's declared
support for mining-driven national economic growth," stated Joao
Carrelo, the Company's President & CEO. "Once those boundaries are
known, we will be able to assess the impact of the Park on the
Company's assets and business. Until those boundaries are disclosed,
any view on the impacts on mining in the region are speculative."
Further details will be made available as soon as they are known.

Company Profile

Eco Oro Minerals Corp. is a publicly-traded precious metals exploration
and development company with a portfolio of projects in Colombia. Eco
Oro has been focused on its wholly-owned, multi-million ounce Angostura
gold-silver deposit, located in northeastern Colombia, for over 15
years during which it has invested over $200 million in the project's
development and in that of the surrounding communities. Eco Oro is
committed to further advancing the Angostura Underground Project in a
socially and environmentally responsible manner that will be beneficial
for all stakeholders.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release are "forward-looking" within the
meaning of Canadian securities legislation. They include statements
about outcomes relating to the determination of boundaries for the Park
in the area of the Angostura Project. Forward-looking statements are
necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of
management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are
inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive,
political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many
factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
These factors include, among others, political influence, government
regulation as well as other risk factors set out under the heading
"Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form dated March 26, 2012,
which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking
statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.